Mohsin Naqvi meets Pakistan and Sri Lanka players to assure safety after bomb blast near team hotel

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi met players and officials from both Pakistan and Sri Lanka before the second ODI in Rawalpindi amid security concerns following a recent suicide bombing in Islamabad. The meeting was held at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where Naqvi thanked Sri Lankan players and staff individually for continuing the tour and reassured them about their safety.

Naqvi also inspected the security arrangements and met with the officials deployed on duty at the stadium. Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner Fred Siriweera and Naqvi’s deputy minister Talal Chaudhry were also present along with top security officials of the region. Naqvi later met with Pakistani players and watched their practice session.

“Your security is our responsibility. Your continued visit to Pakistan is a victory for peace and a defeat for terrorism. The entire Pakistan will always remain indebted to your love and sincerity. This beautiful turn in the friendship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will always be remembered by the Pakistani nation,” Naqvi was quoted as saying to the Sri Lankan players by PCB.

Sri Lanka are in Pakistan for a three-match ODI series, but the tour has been overshadowed by the blast that happened just a few kilometres from their team hotel. The attack resulted in the deaths of 12 people and injured several others, creating fear among the players and staff. Reports suggested that most of the Sri Lankan players wanted to fly back home due to the security situation.

Sri Lanka Cricket force players and staff to stay back?

However, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) stepped in and issued a directive telling all players, staff, and management to stay in Pakistan and complete the series. The SLC also issued a veiled threat to players and staff members, saying it will conduct a “formal review” in case anyone withdraws. This decision was made after talks between the SLC and PCB.

“If any player, players, or member of the support staff return despite SLC’s directives, a formal review will be conducted to assess their actions, and an appropriate decision will be made upon the conclusion of the review,” the SLC statement read.

It is important to note that international cricket in Pakistan was stopped for many years after a Sri Lankan team was attacked by terrorists in 2009 in Lahore. Pakistan were forced to play their home matches in the UAE as teams refused to tour the country over security concerns. When cricket returned to Pakistan after the long exile, Sri Lanka were one of the first teams to travel there.

After the ODI series, Sri Lanka are also scheduled to participate in a T20I tri-series in Pakistan, depending on the security situation.